8. Kita P
KITA P MAKES MAGIC WITH HER MUSIC.
I met Kita P on International Women’s Day, when we were both performing at the Sofar Sounds NYC Headquarters. Kita P’s voice is one that sends serotonin through your bloodstream as her singing hits your ears. It’s the kind of voice I could never get tired of listening to, and after getting together with her for this interview, what she has to say is just as powerful as her voice.
Illustration by Emily Ohlrich (Ink+Oil)
This interview has been edited and condensed.
What do you do?
I would consider myself a truth seeker. I’m very much an introvert living an extrovert life as a performer, and I just want to make magic and inspire people through my music.
How long have you done it for?
I’ve been singing all my life. I moved here in 2005 and studied musical theater. Eventually I dropped the theater part and just moved to music. I did my first open mic in January 2008 in NYC. I’ve been doing shows and open mics ever since.
Where did you grow up and how does that influence your work?
I grew up in Harrisburg, PA until I was 18, then lived in LA for a year and then moved to NYC and never looked back. I would have to say Harrisburg is my foundation, but I feel like I truly grew up in New York. I had a lot more freedom in New York and was able to be more myself here. To this day, I don’t know what the gay community in Harrisburg is like. I know there’s a gay club called the Stallion, and no offense to the Stallion, but that’s not really what I’m looking for. The foundation that Harrisburg laid for me was freedom. I grew up singing in in the church choir, and I always wanted to be free like the person singing next to me. I wanted to sound as free as them. That’s the mindset I honed in on, and since then, I just try to move through this world holding on to my personal freedom.
What project are you working on now or will be working on that you are most excited about?
I’m working on my own venue, a community space. It will be a unique space surrounded by arts, music and youth. Wherever it ends up being based, the immediate community surrounding it will have a big say on the projects and the legacy. I don’t want it to be a stand-alone entity. We deal with this all the time in NY‚—the powers that be always try to get rid of the little guys. You see these amazing historical businesses get shut down. There’s this amazing karaoke bar—it’s the longest standing black, queer karaoke bar in Crown Heights and a few years ago, the landlords raised the rent so high that it ended up getting closed down. It was such a great space—it was for queer people of color, trans people. And now it’s a Metro PCS! What I want to do is create a venue with a community that is that active and involved. A place with art and heart.
What is one hope and dream you have for the next year?
I want to secure sponsorship for my trip to Africa in December. I got invited to record at Red Bull Music Studios in December 2019 in Cape Town. I really want to bring my band, so I’m looking for sponsorship for that. I have a budget and everything, just looking for someone to come on board!
If you could listen to only one song for the rest of the year, what would it be?
It would have to be Liberation by OutKast. You have hip hop, R&B, soul, funk and a message. I get everything I need from that song.
Given the choice of anyone in the world, whom would you want as a dinner guest?
Meshell Ndegeocello. She’s a bass player and composer. I would love to pick her brain and to work with her.
Who is living woman do you most admire, and why?
My mom. She has just done so much. Even if she needed something, she put me and my sisters first. She’s been my number 1 fan always. I’ve come out to her, and she is just the epitome of love. She’s sacrificed a lot for her family.
What is your greatest extravagance or indulgence?
I really love sitting and listening to older R&B. Luther Vandross, Anita Baker, Sade, Robin S, and house music. I like to sit and smoke and listen to it and just vibe out.
If you could fix one thing in the world, what would you fix?
I guess the way the economy is run, like just fix it so that everyone benefits. I don’t mean on a country to country scale, I mean on a global scale. I wanna make it so that we’re all equivalent, no matter what your currency.
What’s the last album you listened to?
I’ve been listening to Mandella Eskia’s new album, Bury Me in Gold, Vol 2. He’s an incredible artist. It tells his story of his experience of being black in America and born and raised in Harlem.
Kita P is a singer/songwriter bringing to you that #BlindVibe thru her melodic blend in range and rhythm. Performing all over NYC with guitar in-hand!! Sometimes she's accompanied by her band #BlackLicorice. In 2015 she launched her monthly series #KitaPMusicSessions brought to you by #UrbanVersionMedia aka Brooklyn Blues, highlighting bassists and guitarists, bringing to you the musician behind the music. Now can be watched on BRIC (New Episodes Launching April 2018). Kita P was just featured on BRIC TV's B-SIDE with her band #BlackLicorice. Check out her most recent release, #TheLesson, August 2017 with a video for the single, History, available online everywhere. Stay tuned for more Kita P & Black Licorice!